Thursday, September 25, 2014

Henry and Mudge and the Starry Night

 "Henry and Mudge and the Starry Night", by Cynthia Rylant. is a short story composed of three chapters. It is considered classic children's literature and is commonly included in English textbooks in America for grades 2-4.



Big Bear Lake:
I.           Intro: Genres in Lit and Camping (Brainstorm and ppt) Camping supplies, what you do camping, problems that can happen camping, etc.
II.        Intro Vocabulary (pg 90-94), setting, characters

III.   Comprehension:
With whom did Henry and Mudge go camping? (Henry’s parents)
What did Henry’s mom know how to do? (set up a tent, build a campfire, cook camp food)
 What did Henry’s dad know how to do? (play the guitar)
What animals did Henry think they might see? (deer, raccoons, bears)
 What animal was Henry not sure he wanted to see? (a bear)
Why did he think no bear would be able to get them? (they are too slippery)

Extra: I. Camping   Animal Slide Show

A Good Smelly Hike
I.           Intro Vocab. + brainstorm local hikes and waterfalls
II. I.           Comprehension
What did everyone have? (a backpack)
What did Henry see on the hike? (fish, a doe and her fawn, waterfalls, a rainbow)
What did Mudge see? (not much; he was too busy smelling)
What did he smell? (a raccoon, a deer, an oatmeal cookie)
What did Mudge unpack? (a ham sandwich)
 What made Henry groan? (his dad getting out his guitar)

Extra: Homemade oatmeal cookies.

My daughter and her friend made oatmeal cookies with Taiwanese black sugar that we shared with the neighbors.




Green Dreams
I.           Intro Vocab. + brainstorm Constellations
II.      Comprehension
What constellation did Henry find in the sky? (the Little Dipper)
What did Mudge chew on? (a log)
With whom did Henry snuggle? (Mudge) 

Extra: 
1. Why did everyone have "green dreams"? Had I more time, I would love to have the kids paint their interpretation of what green dreams may look like.

2. Make S'mores (indoor recipe here). I have fond memories as a child of this camping food classic.

3. Creative writing- There isn't enough focus on writing or time for it, in this class. Ideally I'd like to spend a week (4 classes) helping them plan a short story, write, redraft and make into a nice presentation on green construction paper background in the shape of a tent. I was inspired by teacher Pattie's Classroom.


Here is the story with audio, to practice pronunciation

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